The commissioner and secretary to Assam’s health and family welfare department, Monalisa Goswami, reviewed the activities undertaken by the District Task Force (DTF) for combating Japanese Encephalitis in the district.
The review meeting was held on Friday in presence of the deputy commissioner, Dr. S Lakshmanan, at the Sukafa Conference Hall of the DC’s office in Sivasagar.
The commissioner and secretary while taking detailed stock of the status and measures initiated towards prevention and treatment of Japanese Encephalitis in the district, stressed upon coordinated efforts of the district administration, district health department as well as all the line departments in mitigating the disease.
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She also emphasised on focussing more on preventive measures and creating mass awareness about the disease.
Goswami also advised to devise a more effective and strategic approach in combating the disease.
Deputy commissioner Lakshmanan apprised the commissioner and secretary in depth about the rigorous measures carried out by the District Task Force regarding early detection, vaccination of children and adults, fogging, bed-net impregnation, treatment of the patients and awareness drives, the district information and public relations officer informed in a press communiqué.
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He stated that all-out efforts are being given in tackling the issue of Japanese Encephalitis in the district.
The joint director of health services, Dr. Ripun Borpujari, through a power point presentation gave an insight on the status of Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome from 2014 to 2019 in the district and the strategies adopted for combating the issue.
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He stressed on looking out for the children who took births in 2007 to 2011 and those left out from being vaccinated in both pilots in 2006 and 2011.
As per the report, in comparison to 2014 when 128 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and 64 cases of Japanese Encephalitis, during 2019, the figure was slashed down to 34 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and 16 Japanese Encephalitis cases, the press communiqué said.
This year, there is one case of death reported due to Japanese Encephalitis in the district.
The commissioner and secretary while expressing satisfaction over the measures taken and activities carried out by the District Task Force appealed to the general public not to panic about the disease.
Along with other dignitaries, the additional deputy commissioner in charge of the health department, Dilip Terang, also attended the meeting.